Is The Retreat Worth It On Celebrity Cruises?
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When you want the most exclusive all-inclusive experience on Celebrity, you have one choice. But is The Retreat worth it on Celebrity Cruises?
We have stayed in The Retreat on Celebrity many times, and I remember my husband being leery at first because of the extra cost. Now, however, he’s a convert, and we both enjoy the amenities that being a Retreat guest provides. My husband enjoys having a favorite Retreat bartender who knows his favorite cocktails, and I like having a dedicated waiter in the private restaurant who knows my preferences and suggests dining choices for me.
But is it worth it?
First, let’s go over the extras that being a Retreat guest affords you.
Larger, More Luxurious Stateroom
The least expensive Retreat stateroom is at least 50% larger than a balcony stateroom, and the sizes of the suites go up to over 1,800 square feet. But let’s talk about the Sky Suite, the entry-level suite in The Retreat.
It comes with a luxurious queen- or king-size bed with a cashmere mattress that is kept immaculately made up for you by your stateroom attendant, who also keeps your large, elegant bathroom tidy. The bathroom has a spa shower/tub combination and plenty of storage for your toiletries. Speaking of toiletries, Bigelow shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and soap are provided for you.
Extras provided in your stateroom for your use during the cruise are two plush robes and slippers, a pair of compact binoculars, and two umbrellas, one large golf-type umbrella and one compact. The slippers can go home with you, but the rest must remain.
Your mini fridge is kept stocked with bottled water, sodas, and beer for you by your butler. Yes, you get a butler. Swanky, right? You share them with other guests, which is fine because you can’t keep them busy full-time.
Your Retreat Team
In addition to your butler, who handles any food and beverage requests (plus other assistance you may need), and your stateroom attendant, who handles anything to do with your cabin, you also have the concierge team at your beck and call.
Want to order room service? Complete the order card or place a phone call, and your butler will deliver it.
Need more towels or clothes hangers? Ask your stateroom attendant.
Need to make a specialty dining reservation or have a question about an excursion? Ask your concierge.
This team works together to ensure your cruise is as wonderful and perfect as possible. They aim to please, and they do an excellent job of it.
All-Inclusive Package
The all-inclusive package, or All-In, as it is known, adds a few important benefits to your cruise. These include:
Premium Beverage Package
The premium beverage package allows you to enjoy specialty coffees, bottled water, juices, and all cocktails for up to $17. If your cocktail costs more, you will be charged the difference. If you would like a bottle of wine, it would be discounted by 20%.
Premium Wi-Fi
Your all-inclusive package also includes premium unlimited Wi-Fi, which is now provided by Starlink.
Special fares and MoveUp upgrades from non-suite staterooms do not receive the all-inclusive amenities listed above. They do, however, receive the benefits listed below.
Retreat Restaurant, Luminae
As a Retreat guest, you may dine at Luminae, the Retreat restaurant. Its international cuisine is excellent and can be found nowhere else onboard. Breakfast and dinner are served daily, and lunch is served on embarkation day and when the ship is at sea. The dinner menu changes nightly, and there’s even a classic menu you can order from if that evening’s selections don’t appeal.
Retreat Lounge and Bar
The Retreat Lounge (or Michael’s Club on non-revolutionized ships) will soon become your home away from home onboard. This is where you can find your concierge when you need help, or if you just want to chat. Activities, cocktail parties, and small performances are held here to keep you entertained, and an afternoon buffet or tea is provided each day.
The Retreat Bar should become your favorite place to order a drink onboard. The bartenders are the best and can mix any cocktail you can think of. If they don’t have the right ingredients, they will go out of their way to find them. Once you order your favorite drink, they remember it and will whip it up right away the next time you come in.
On all Edge-class or revolutionized ships, the Retreat Lounge will have fridges stocked with bottled water, sodas, and other beverages you can bring back to your cabin as you like.
Retreat Sundeck and Bar
Depending on whether your ship has been updated in the revolutionizing process, it may have differing combinations of a sundeck, a plunge pool, a hot tub, and a Retreat Bar. This space is exclusive to Retreat guests, ensuring you always have a lounger or a seat at the bar when you want one. Located at the top of the ship, the Sundeck has fantastic views.
An attendant provides you with towels, cocktails, or food from the Sundeck menu. Afternoons, the attendant will circulate with special treats.
Non-revolutionized ships do not have a Retreat Sundeck. These include Celebrity Solstice, Eclipse, Reflection, Constellation, and Infinity.
Other Benefits
As a Retreat guest, you will also receive special benefits such as:
- Priority embarkation and disembarkation
- Priority tendering at tender ports
- Daily canapes on request
- Fresh fruit on request
- Sparkling wine at embarkation
- Special seating at performances on a chic night
- A pillow menu
- Little in-suite extras such as plush bathrobes and slippers
Special Benefits For High-End Suites
If you book a Royal Suite or above, you may receive extra benefits, such as:
- Unlimited specialty dining
- Bar stocked with two bottles of spirits of your choice
- Free laundry twice per cruise
- Priority luggage delivery
- A Peloton delivered to your suite (Iconic Suite only)
For a more comprehensive breakdown by Retreat suite type, check out our post.
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The Exclusivity
One of the biggest benefits of The Retreat is its exclusivity. If you don’t like crowds and would prefer a more sedate, relaxing cruise experience, then The Retreat will appeal to you.
All the Retreat facilities, from the restaurant to the sundeck, are much less crowded than the rest of the ship. You can get a cocktail without a wait at the Retreat Bar. You don’t have to try to reserve a lounger on the Sundeck. You won’t have to wait more than a moment or two for a table at the restaurant. On the first and last days of the cruise, you are whisked away by a concierge, bypassing the long lines entering or leaving the ship.
All these perks add up to less time waiting and more time enjoying yourself on your cruise, which is priceless.
The Personal Touch
When you’re a Retreat guest, you’re not just a number. You’re a valued guest who is treated as such. Everyone in The Retreat, from the bartender to the busboy, knows your name and face, and they quickly learn and remember your preferences.
The Downside Of The Retreat
There are only two downsides to The Retreat that I can think of.
One is the cost, which adds quite a bit to your total at checkout. In fact, it can be double or triple the cost of a balcony cabin, or more, depending on the ship, the itinerary, the time of year, and the availability of cabins at booking.
On a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean on the Ascent that we have booked for January 2024, the following normal charges for the all-inclusive All-In package were removed from our booking because we were booking The Retreat:
- $763 each for the Premium Beverage Package
- $168 each for Premium Wi-Fi
- $161 each for Gratuities
This totaled a savings of $2,184 for items we would have paid for anyway.
However, the difference in price between a balcony cabin guarantee $2,378 for two) and a Sky Suite guarantee ($8,624 for two) on that cruise (the only option left at this point) is $6,246. Considering the savings mentioned above, the net cost difference between a balcony cabin and a Sky Suite on this cruise is $4,062 for two.
The second downside to The Retreat is that once you’ve tried it, you never want to book a regular cabin again. You’re spoiled for life.
The Final Verdict: Is The Retreat Worth It?
To decide if The Retreat is worth the extra cost to you, you may want to ask yourself a few questions:
- Is the higher cost within my budget?
- If yes, would I place value on a larger cabin? Will I spend much time in it on this trip?
- If yes, would I enjoy the other benefits detailed above?
- If yes, would I enjoy them enough to justify double or triple the cost of a balcony cabin?
If you answer no to any of the above questions, then The Retreat may not be your best choice.
Final Thoughts On Is The Retreat Worth It On Celebrity Cruises
Cruising in The Retreat on Celebrity has been a wonderful experience for us every time and has been well worth the cost. But don’t take my word for it…try it for yourself. You’ll never go back.
Happy cruising!
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